FNB selects its Business Excellence Award winners
The FNB Business Excellence Awards, now in its 14th year, are sponsored by First National Bank since 2009 and organised by the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries to recognise the contribution of Italian-South African businesses to South Africa's economic growth and development.
2013 FNB Business Excellence Awards Finalists
This year's winners were announced late last week at a function in Johannesburg. "FNB is proud to be in a partnership which recognises entrepreneurial excellence and contribution to the South African economy. We see the awards as an essential intervention to sustaining the spotlight on entrepreneurs and enterprises that continue to demonstrate unwavering commitment to building an economically vibrant country. Through this joint commitment, the bank hopes to further highlight the need for collaboration in order to enable local and international businesses to thrive in South Africa," says Michael Vacy-Lyle, CEO of FNB Commercial Banking.
Category winners
- Young Upcoming Entrepreneur of the Year: Tato Carello of Carello Autobody
- Business Enterprise of the Year: SMEG South Africa (Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla)
- Business Person of the Year: Antonio Lozzo, who runs Insurance Underwriting Managers and Meadow Star Investments
Three further awards were presented to honour Italian-South African persons who are distinguished for merits over and above business. The category winners are:
- Honorary Chairperson's Award: Vera Giovitto of Mosaic Art
- Chairperson's Excellence Award: Marcello Fiasconaro, Italian-South African athlete who set a world record in the 800m track event in 1973
- Lifetime Recognition Award: Piero Rossi for his involvement in the Italian Club Pretoria since the early 90s
- Italian Hospitality, Italian Restaurants in the World: this prestigious seal was awarded to 25 Italian restaurants
To demonstrate their commitment to community upliftment, FNB and the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries also used the event to raise funds for charity. This year's proceeds went to Little Eden, a non-profit organisation that helps people with intellectual disability. World-famous speaker Dr John Demartini capped the occasion by sharing insights with guests and encouraged the winners to continue to make a difference.
